Piano-action frame.



No. 872,292. PATBNTED NOV. 26, 1907. J. W. DARLEY, JR.

PIANO ACTION FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED rms. e, 190e. RENIzwBD SEPT. 1o, 1901.

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No. 872,292. PATENTED Nov. 26, 1907. J W DARLEY, JR.

PIANO ACTION FRAME. APPLICATION FILED H126, 190e. RBNBWED SEPT. 1o,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WM. KNABEd: CO. MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,A COR- PORATION OF MARYLAND.

PIANO-ACTION FRAME.

Patented Nov. 26,1907.

Original application led September l1, 1905, Serial No. 277.989. Dividedand this application filed February 6. 1906,

' Serial No. 299,813. Renewed September 10, 1907. Serial No. 392,215.

T 0 all whom it may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, JonN W. DARLEY, Jr.,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city and State ofMaryland, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements inPiano-Action Frames, (this application being filed as a division of mypending application, Serial No. 277,989, iiled September 11, 1905, for acombined manually and mechanically operated piano and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to piano-actions, more particularly theaction-rails and supporting brackets for piano-actions composed ofmechanisms or groups of instrumentalities mounted upon or attached tosuperimposed action-rails; as in modern upright pianos, wherein the.hammer, its Wippen or rocker, the jack and associated devices aremounted on an upper rail, while the abstract or wippen-actuating rod ispivotally-attached to a lower rail.

The main object is to provide for structure and arrangement of the wholepiano-action in two distinct but properly correlated or organizedmechanisms, adapted to be separately introduced into or taken from theinstrument, with a view to simplifying and facilitating theconstruction, assemblage and adjustment of the instrument, andpermitting the removal or separation of parts without deranging therespective mechanisms.

A further object is to provide for nicety of adjustment of the actionrails, of insuring precision in the relation and arrangement of therespective mechanisms, bringing the hammer and its wippen in properrelation to the abstract and to the key.

The invention will hereinafter' be fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and thenmore particularly pointed. out and defined in the appended claims.

Figure l is a fragmentary front view of the interior construction of aninstrument embodying my invention, showing the action-rails and theirsupporting brackets,

and showing one element only of the pianoaction associated with one key,the same being represented near the left of the figure which is alsobroken away at the middle for compactness of illustration. Fig. 2 is avertical cross-section taken through the pianoaction at the right of theextreme right-hand action-bracket and looking toward the left oropposite end of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a similar section takenthrough the action at the right of one of the intermediate brackets, andlooking in the same direction. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of one ofthe lower outer brackets of the lower action rail; it being noted thatthe two action rails are attached to separate brackets which arerespectively superimposed one above the other. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe bracket shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the lowerarm of one of the intermediate brackets. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailperspective view of a non-rotatable nut which its in a slot in said armof the upper intermediate bracket, and is used in connection with theadjusting of the upper bracket with respect to the subjacent lowerbracket.

A particular explanation of the illustrated construction is as follows:

1 denotes the piano-case; 2 the bed or wood bottom of the ke y-board; 3the keys (only one key with its associated element of the piano-actionbeing shown in Fig. l, also in Figs. 2 and 3). As well understood, thekey when depressed by the performer-s finger lifts the abstract ofvertically-disposed wippen-actuating rod 4, which actuates the wippen orrocker 5 to cause the hammer 6 to strike upon the string 7.

There are two action-rails, an upper. and lower one, designated by thenumerals S and 9 respectively. The hammer 6 and associated devices forproducing its stroke and recoil are supported by the upper action-railS, the hammer being actuated as usual by its wippen 5 which ispivotally-attached to the under side of the action-rail. The abstract 4,which transmits motion from the key to the wippen, is shown pivotallyattached to and supported by the lever 10 and link 11, which arethemselves pivotally attached to and supported by the lower action-rail9. The upper end of the abstract, shown having an adjustable cap 12,bears under the wippen but is not positively connected thereto, sothat'the upper action-rail and group of instrumentalities supportedthereby is a distinct and separable mechanism from the lower action-railwith the abstract attached thereto. 1n this case, the illustratedpianoaction is designed for incorporation inan autopneumatic instrument(shown and described in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 277989),wherefore the abstract is shown supported by the key by means of theadjustable capstan-serew 13 at the rear end ol' the key-lever takingunder the front end of the lever 10, which extends slightly beyond itspivotal connection with the abstract or wippen-actuating rod 4; whilethe abstract is shown vertically-disposed behind the rear end of thekey-lever and adapted to be supported and liftable by the pneumaticstriker (not shown); so that the hammer can be actuated either from thekey or striker, the abstract being not positively connected with eitheragency. This particular feature however is not part of my presentinvention but is described only for explanation of the illustratedconstruction, it being understood of course that the invention hereindescribed and claimed is susceptible of embodiment in or withinstruments of other construction and operation.

The action-rails 8 and 9 are independently mounted one above the other,longitudinally of the piano-ease, said rails being attached to separateand distinct upper and lower brackets, there being for each rail twooutside or end brackets and preferably two intermediate brackets, theupper brackets being super-- imposed above the corresponding lowerbrackets. These brackets are designated as follows: The lower rail 9 isattached to and supported by the outer or end brackets 14 andintermediate brackets 15. The upper rail 8 is attachedto and supportedby the superimposed outer or end brackets 16 and intermediate brackets17. The lower brackets 14 and 15 rest upon and are secured to the bed 2of the key-board. The upper outside brackets 16 are supported on postsor bolsters 18, screwed into and projecting up from the key-board bed 2.Said postsor bolsters ,pass up through slots or openings 19 in the feetof the lower outside brackets 14, permitting adjustment of said bracketstransversely of the key-board, it being well understood that suchprovision for adjustment is practically essential in view of possibleslight inaccuracies in the castings of the metal brackets. Said posts orbolsters 18 are shown surmounted by balls 20 engaged or seated in cupsor sockets 21 at the lower parts of the superimposed upper outsidebrackets 16; thus providing adjustable bearings forl the upper outsidebrackets, the vertical adjustment being obtained by screwing thekey-board, corresponding to t-he similar adjustment of the lower outeror end brackets 14 before explained. Said cups 23 are shown at the lowerends of threaded stems or bolts 24 which are tappedor screwed innonrotatable nuts 25 (one of said nuts being shown enlarged in Fig. 7).Said nuts 25 are adjustable along the feet or lower arms of the upperbrackets 17 the said nuts having reduced portions 26 slidable in slots27 in the feet orlower arms of said brackets 17, said slots 27 extendingtransversely of the keyboard and action-rails. The bolts or threadedrods 24 are also provided with jam-nuts 28, for securing the bolt inproper position after it has been adjusted. Thus it is observed that thecups 23 are capable of both vertical adjustment and horizontaladjustment transversely of the key-board. The several upper brackets,both the outer ones 16 and intermediate ones 17, are further attached attheir upper parts to the interior back frame of the instrument by meansof Y the usual headed screws 29 entered through the upper ends of saidbrackets and into the projecting studs or posts Proper disposition orarrangement of the upper outside brackets 16 is afforded by adjustingthe bolsters or posts 18, and proper disposition of the upperintermediate brackets 17 is afforded by adjusting their lower cups 23;and the upper ends of the several upper brackets are held by the screws29 to the posts 30, which are set at the proper projection from theback-frame of the instrument.

The foregoing explains the manner of mounting the upper and lower partsof the action. In constructing the piano, the lower part of the action,comprising the lower action-rail 9 with its attached brackets 14 and 15and the abstracts pivotally-connected to the rail, is first mounted inthe instrument, the supporting brackets 14 and 15 being fastened on thebed 2 of the key-board in such position as to locate the abstracts orwhippen-actuating rods 4 in correct position relative to the keys. Theupper part of the action, comprising the upper action-rail 8 with itsattached brackets 16 and 17 and the several hammers and coperatinggroups ofv instrumentalities Carried by the upper action-rail, is thenmounted in the instrument,

the upper outside brackets 16 being placed upon the bolsters 18 and theintermediate brackets 17 upon the intermediate lower brackets 15 5 andthe posts 30 and also the balls and cups- 20 and 23 being properlyadjusted, to bring the upper part or division of the action into properrelation with the key and the correlated mechanism oi' the lower part ofthe action.

The lower intermediate brackets 15 are shown having box-like portions15LL therein, providing passages through the brackets transversely ofthe key-board. These boxings are intended lor the passage of groups oftracker-bar pipes or pneumatic tubes in the autopneumatic instrument,and this i'eature is not concerned in my present invention, beingdescribed merely to explain the peculiar form ol' the intermediate lowerbrackets as shown. The arms 15b shown projecting il'rom the boxings 15,and shown broken away just above the boxings, are intended to extendupwardly to provide asupport for the music-roll mechanism in the upperfront ol' the case, this also being a feature not concerned in thepresent invention.

vHaving thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apiano, the combination of a pianoaction comprising separate action-railsand superimposed groups of operative instrumentalities respectivelyconnected to said rails, brackets supporting the lower rail, superposedbrackets supporting the upper rail, saidupper and lower brackets beingrelatively adjustable, thereby allowing horizontal adjustment of saidlower brackets trans-.

versely of said rails without change of position of said upper brackets.

2. In a piano, the combination with the key-board bed, of an actioncomprising separate action-rails and superposed groups of operativeinstrun'ientalities connected to the respective rails, brackets for thelower rail mounted on the key-board bed, holsters or posts rising fromsaid bed through slots in the feet or bases of lower brackets, thuspermitting horizontal adjustment of the latter transversely of said bedand rails, and brackets for the upper rail detachably mounted on saidbolsters.

3. In a piano, the combination with the key-board bed and back-frame, ofan action comprising separate action-rails and superimposed groups ofoperative instrumentalities respectively carried thereby, bracketsmounted on said bed and supporting the lower rail, holsters or postsrising from said bed through slots in the bases or leet of lowerbrackets permitting adjustment thereor' transversely of said bed andrails without obstruction from. said holsters, and superposed bracketssupporting the upper rail having adjustable ball-and-socket bearings l il on said holsters and having their upper ends attached to said back-frame.

In a piano, the combination of a pianoaction comprising superimposedgroups of operative instrumentalities and separate action-railstherefor, supporting brackets lier the lower rail, and superposedsupporting brackets lor the upper rail having verticallyadjustable b alland socket bearings on brackets supporting the lower rail;

ln a piano, the combination with the key-lmard bed, of an actioncomprising superimposed groups olf operative instrumentalities andseparate action-rails therefor, supportingbrackets for the lower rail,superposed supporting brackets for the upper rail mounted on lowerbrackets and having bearings on said lower bracketshorizontally-adjustable in a direction transverse ol said keyboard andrails.

6. ln a piano, the combination of a pianoaction composed ol upper andlower groups of operative instrumentalities and separate action-railstherefor, supporting brackets -for the lower rail, superposed supportingbrackets lor the upper rail mounted upon lower brackets and having balland cup bearings on said lower brackets, which bearings arevertically-adjustable and also horizontallyadjustable transversely ofthe key-board and rails to conform to the positioning of the lowerbrackets.

,7. ln a piano, the combination with the key-board bed and back-frame,ol' a pianoaction composed of upper and lower groups ot operativeinstrumentalities and separate action-rails therefor, each action-railhaving independent supporting brackets, there being outside or endbrackets and intermediate brackets, the lower brackets being mounted onthe key-board bed, bolsters rising from said bed through slots in thebases of the lower outside brackets to permit adjustment ol` the lattertransversely of said bed and rails7 the upper outside brackets restingon said holsters, the upper intermediate brackets resting on the lowerintermediate brackets and having bearings thereon which are adjustabletransversely ol said bed and rails to conform to the positioning of saidlower intermediate brackets corresponding to the positioning of thelower' outside brackets, and the upper brackets being attached to theback-frame.

8. In a piano, the combination ol two superimposed action-rails foradjustment of diilerent parts of the piano-action, a supporting bracketattached to the lower rail, a superposed supporting bracket attached tothe upper rail and mounted upon said lower bracket, there being ahorizontally and vertically-adjustable ball and socket bearing for theupper bracket on said lower bracket.

9. ln a piano, the combination with the key-board bed, of an. actionhaving separate supporting rails, a lower bracket attached to the'lowerrail and secured on said hed, said bracket having a slot or opening inits foot, a vertical post or holster secured in said hed and proj ectinup through said slot, anv upper bracket attac ed to the upper railmounted on said holster, the slot in the foot of the lowerhracket'allowing adjustment thereof transversely of the key-board.

l0. In a piano, an action comprising superimposed groups of operativeinstrumentalities, separate action-rails therefor, the lower groupcomprising an abstract or wippen-actuating rod, an linkspivotally-connected to said abstract and pivotally-attached to the lowerand upper sides of the lower action-rail, one of said links having alever extension beyond its pivotal connection with the abstract, and akey-lever operating under said lever extension for lifting the abstract.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN w. DARLEY, JR'.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SANDLAs, CHAs. A. NEUENHAHN.

